Sunshine AT LAST

Yup, finally today the sun broke through the clouds, and Tel Aviv was lit up in all its Middle Eastern glory. I took a walk along the promenade with my camera and took a heap of photos... which I hope will turn out grand.

Still nothing regarding work, but to be fair, I have not looked for any. As beautiful and vibrant as Tel Aviv is... to be honest, if I wanted to be in a city, I'd be in London right now. I crave some peace... the countryside. So... it looks like a Kibbutz may be the answer. Unfortunately I cannot do anything til Sunday, as it is the weekend and everything regarding working on a Kibbutz appears to be closed until then.

Yesterday I went for a Guinness in an Israeli/Irish pub Molly Malones... yeah, the same one Karen advised me to look for work in. The truth is... I liked it too much to work there! I sat at the bar, alone, and was served by a lovely young Israeli barman, who thought I was Israeli also... because he thought he heard me speak Hebrew (erm, no - that's just my mumbling). As I sat there nursing my pint, a middle-aged Israeli gentleman to my left (I like to be precise about these things) started asking me about my reasons for coming to Israel, etc. and insisted on paying for my drink, as someone had once done that for him when he was first in Tel Aviv. Karen told me today that people in Israel never buy drinks for anyone else, so apparently that's just 'weird'. Hmmm... I certainly know how to attract the weirdos... No, he was lovely. He assured me it was just a welcome to the country, as his wife was coming to collect him in a moment.

After he left, I got chatting to an American guy called Jim, from Ohio. Funny coincidence. I told him my brother now lived in Columbus and it turned out he went to school there. We talked a while, the Israeli barman also joining in - it was great to talk to people with the same opinions on the whole Danish cartoon uproar. The barman (I didn't get his name) joked about how he bet everyone asked me if I was suicidal coming to Israel. Erm.... that's actually pretty spot on!

Jim offered to buy me another drink, but feeling slightly tipsy from the one pint, I politely declined and headed back for an early night.

I didn't get a very good sleep as someone arrived in our room at 2am and put on the lights whilst she leisurely made her bed and sorted out her things. Grrreat.

This morning, I basked in the sunshine on the beach, took some photos and had a basic wander around, before meeting Karen at 1pm. She walked me around the market on Nehalat Binyamin street - which is crowded on a Friday - full of colourful stalls, street performers, and music; and then to a restarant overlooking the beach where she treated me to lunch. Had some delicious fruit smoothies and remanised about Hatfield and all its delights. Boy, Karen really does hate that place with a passion; even now.

Lunch over, she had to depart - she's had a lot on her plate at the moment, what with moving into a new apartment, work, college. I told her I'd keep her posted on where I decide to go, and when I'm back in Tel Aviv.

Wandering along the beach again, later on - the light was amazing by this time - I took photos of the windsurfers... some guy started chatting to me. Most of the guys who talk to me, I give the quick brush off, but he was shorter than me so I didn't feel intimidated. We got to chatting, and although right off I could tell he was a bit of a twatto pretty boy; I was bored/lonely/something else, so I agreed for him to take me for a coffee. That meant riding on the back of his scooter (moped type thing - tonnes of people ride these things here) through the palm tree lined streets of Tel Aviv.. boy, that was worth it alone!

To cut a long story short - SOMEHOW taking me out for a coffee in his sleazy book meant going to his - but as it was attached to his family home, I wasn't as 'Uh-oh' as I might have been. Before I continue I would like to make it clear that I was in NO WAY flirtacious... or indeed even FRIENDLY with this guy. Quite the opposite. Some guys have HUGE EGOS and just, I guess, think every chick wants them. PAH!

What happened next was pretty comical. I'm still laughing thinking about the downright cheesiness of the situation. He put on Santana, and poured some beer and started telling me about his job dealing with 'alternative medicines' - he then said I came across as 'very depressed' and he then started to 'cleanse' my 'aura'!!! This entailed circling the air around my head with his hands and smacking the sides of my ears or something. Man, I couldn't keep a straight face. There was something so, downright Monty Pythonesque about it!

If you want to know. It didn't work. I was even more negative afterwards. Twat. I was getting a bit more uncomfortable, as he didn't seem to get the matey-matey vibes, so I pretty much just said 'I'm outta here' - he seemed quite surprised 'what? Don't you find me cute?'

!??!?????!?!?!???!?!??!?!

Erm. Excuse me?

I then pretty much explained that I had agreed to a coffee, not to come over to his, and that it was pretty presumptious of him to assume that. Boy did he have an ego, that guy. He couldn't quite comprehend how anyone could turn him down! Oh for British guys! How I am missing them already (I always do). He got pretty bitchy, but still tried to get me to meet up with him later on. I told him no, but not to take it personally, as I'd be the same with any guy who randomly brought me to his after promising me coffee.

So, basically I am TOTALLY steering clear of 'friendly guys just trying to show me Tel Aviv' now. I mean it. I'm not going out tonight. A. because I want to save money, and B. I don't want some sleazy moron thinking he can make some cheeky pass at me.

Tomorrow is Saturday. I think I may wander over to Jaffa and take some photos - that's what my main focus has been so far. Sunday is when I check out of the hostel. I haven't decided whether to book myself another night and then line up a kibbutz, or just sod it and get the train to Jerusalem or Haifa or Eilat. I think I just want some peace, though. I've had enough of cities for the time being and want to get away from it all. My eyelashes are still falling out. I want some peace and quiet.